Introduction
Driven by growing awareness of the benefits of collagen, the collagen supplementation market size has recorded over one billion USD and is said to grow around 6% between 2022 and 2030. Now you will recall in our previous blogs us mentioning that collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. Collagen makes up 90% of our connective tissues and which includes your gut. Collagen is found in the gut lining where it helps form a protective layer that keeps food from leaking into your bloodstream before it's been broken down by digestive enzymes (peptides).
Many are under the misapprehension that collagen is just a beauty supplement. However, nothing could be further from the truth. It is so much more than that and today we will discuss one of the not so glamourous and well-known benefits of collagen - gut health.
Since it is the season to be jolly, that comes with overindulgence we thought it may be worthwhile getting to know the importance of gut health, as well as the issues that an unhealthy gut can cause. Along with all that information the knowledge that one simple supplement ‘Collagen’ can help with!
The Gut-Collagen Connection
The gut is the largest organ in your body, and it’s a complex system that has many roles. The gut is responsible for digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function, and more. One of the key components of the gut is collagen—a type of protein made up mostly of amino acids. Collagen helps keep your gastrointestinal tract healthy by providing structure to help it hold together with other organs and tissues throughout your digestive system. It also holds everything in place so that nutrients can move through it easily without being exposed to harmful substances like bacteria or viruses (which occur when you consume food).
Nutrition and the Gut
The gut comprises the gastrointestinal tract. It’s sometimes called the “second brain” because of its role in regulating digestion and other processes. Your digestive system also plays a role in maintaining overall health, helping to keep you sharp and energized throughout the day by breaking down food into energy for the body.
The gut is made up of various structures that work together to absorb nutrients from food and send them into circulation through blood vessels known as capillaries. The walls of these capillaries are single-layered sheets of cells with tiny holes in them that allow substances like oxygen and glucose to pass through easily but prevent larger things like bacteria and viruses from getting inside (also known as selective permeability). A barrier lining called mucus helps protect this otherwise open system against infection or foreign particles entering it without permission—but if you suffer from leaky gut syndrome due to chronic inflammation caused by poor diet habits or other factors then this seal could be broken down over time allowing harmful toxins into your bloodstream where they shouldn't go!
The Importance of Gut Health
As you know, the gut is an important organ that impacts your overall health. It is the largest organ in your body, and it has a direct connection to all other organs. It's responsible for nutrient absorption, production of vital enzymes and hormones, as well as fighting off foreign invaders and toxins.
Your microbiome is the population of microbes that live inside us. In fact, there are 10 times more bacterial cells than human cells in our bodies! This makes sense considering that 90% of our immune system relies on these microorganisms for protection from harmful substances (1).
Our microbiome affects every aspect of health including mental wellbeing (2), mood disorders like depression (3), digestion issues such as leaky gut syndrome (4), weight gain/loss (5) or even susceptibility to certain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease or autism spectrum disorder (6).
What causes an Unhealthy Gut
There are many reasons why you might have an unhealthy gut. You may eat too much sugar and not enough fibre, or you could be stressed out all the time with no exercise. You could be drinking too much alcohol or not taking probiotics on a regular basis. The best way to reduce the chance of having an unhealthy gut is to make changes in your lifestyle that will help keep it healthy.
There are many things that can contribute to an unhealthy gut, such as:
· stress
· lack of sleep
· lack of exercise
Issues related to an Unhealthy Gut
The gut microbiome plays a vital role in brain health, immune function and metabolism.
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests gut health may influence the development of conditions such as depression and autism. According to Dr Sarah Myhill MD FRCP(UK), "90% of the serotonin receptors within our brains are located within our digestive tract" which explains why we experience mood swings when we eat poorly or for example lack sufficient fibre intake from foods like whole grains.
The Benefits of Collagen for Gut Health
Why Collagen is Beneficial to Gut Health:
· It helps to repair the gut lining - The intestinal wall acts as a barrier between the inside of your body and the outside environment. It’s made up of layers of cells that line your digestive tract and protect you from harmful bacteria and toxins, as well as other dangerous chemicals. Damage or deterioration of this layer can allow toxins into your bloodstream, leading to inflammation in other parts of your body. Collagen helps heal damaged areas by rebuilding them with healthy tissue.
· It assists in maintaining integrity of the gut barrier. If you think about it, this makes sense—if collagen is helping rebuild your intestinal wall, then it follows that it would also help maintain its integrity! In other words, this particular benefit relates directly back to “healing damaged areas” from above (and vice versa). Just remember: A strong barrier means fewer toxins entering through holes or cracks!
· Reduces inflammation caused by leaky gut syndrome (LGS). Leaky gut syndrome occurs when there are microscopic tears in our intestinal walls because we've eaten something inflammatory like gluten—a protein found in wheat-based products such as breads or pastas made with wheat flour—or dairy products like cheese....
Adding collagen to your diet can help strengthen the barrier in your gut.
In addition to its role in healthy skin and bones, collagen can also help strengthen your gut barrier. A weakened gut barrier allows unwanted substances from your intestines into your bloodstream where they can cause inflammation or other health problems like allergies or autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis).
Conclusion
We’ve only scratched the surface of what we know about collagen and gut health, and there is much more to explore. But it’s clear that this is an emerging area of research with significant potential for improving our understanding of how the gut functions.
Since it is the season to be jolly, that comes with overindulgence we thought it may be worthwhile information to share so you can get to know the importance of gut health, as well as the issues that an unhealthy gut can cause. Along with all this information the knowledge that one simple supplement ‘Collagen’ can help with!
Wishing you all the very best for the Festive Season.
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